Cover raw plywood edges quickly and easily with wood veneer and an iron.
Time Varies
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$10 - $60
Introduction
You can easily hide the raw edge of plywood with glue edge banding, a strip of wood veneer with heat-sensitive adhesive on one side. With one roll of the miraculous stuff and a few simple tools, you can cover raw plywood edges so the plywood is nearly indistinguishable from solid wood.
Iron-on edge banding is wood veneer with hot-melt adhesive pre-applied to the back. You simply hold the edge banding in place, run over it with a household iron to heat the adhesive, let it cool and trim the edges flush.
You'll find edge banding in common species like birch, oak and cherry at home centers and lumberyards. For exotic species and a greater variety of widths, search online or visit a specialty woodworking store like Rockler or Woodcraft. Rolls of edge banding come in lengths of 8 feet to 250 feet and widths of 13/16 inch to 2 inch. For a typical 3/4-in. plywood, buy 13/16- or 7/8-in.-wide edge banding.
Tools Required
- Utility knife
Materials Required
- 120-grit sandpaper
- 150-grit sandpaper
- Edge banding veneer
Project step-by-step (8)
Step 1
Clean Up the Edges
Saw marks or other roughness will prevent a strong bond between the edge banding and the plywood. To avoid loose edge banding, sand the edges of the plywood smooth before you apply it.
To keep from rounding edges while you sand, wrap a quarter sheet of 120-grit sandpaper around a small block of 3/4-in. plywood and screw another scrap to it as a guide. When the sandpaper starts showing signs of wear, remove the screw and reposition the sandpaper. After sanding, vacuum the edge to remove any dust.
Step 2
Iron On the Edge Banding
Iron down the edge banding to bond it to the plywood edge.
Use your regular clothes iron if you wish, but be aware that you may get adhesive on the soleplate. To be safe, buy a cheap iron from a thrift store or discount retailer. Empty the water out to avoid steam and move the heat setting to “cotton.”
Use scissors to cut a length of edge banding about 1 in. longer than the edge you’re covering. Starting at one end, center the edge banding with equal overhangs on each side and set the preheated iron at that end. Move the iron along the surface, keeping the edge banding centered with your other hand. Move the iron along at a rate of about 2 inches per second. The goal is to melt the adhesive without scorching the wood.
Don’t sweat it if you scorch or misalign the banding during application. Just run the iron over it again to soften the glue so you can peel the banding away. Cut yourself a new piece and start over.
Step 3
Press It With a Block While It’s Hot
Press the edge banding down with a block of wood while it’s still hot to ensure it is fully adhered. Go back and forth over the edge a few times while the glue is cooling. Look for raised areas. Heat those spots again and press them again with the block.
Step 4
Cut Off the Ends
The easiest way to remove the overhanging ends is to slice them off with a utility knife.
Place the edge banding on a work surface and lightly score it a couple of times. Don’t worry about cutting all the way through. Just lift the plywood and bend up the banding to snap it off.
Step 5
Use a Trimmer on the Edges
The quickest and easiest way to trim the edge banding flush to the plywood is with a special edge-banding tool, such as the FastCap trimmer (available at Woodcraft and other stores and online).
Trim with the shimmed side first. Since less veneer is being removed with this side of the trimmer, the likelihood of runaway splits is greatly reduced. Start at one end and squeeze the trimmer until the shims are against the plywood. Then press down and slide the trimmer along the edge. Thin strips of veneer will peel away from both edges.
Flip the trimmer over and use the un-shimmed side for a final trimming. When you’re through, the edge banding should be almost perfectly flush with the plywood. If you missed any spots, just make another pass or two with the trimmer. The final sanding will remove the sharp edge and any remaining overhang.
Step 6
Modify Your Trimmer
Trimming the overhanging edges flush to the plywood without damaging the edge banding can be tricky. If the trimming blade catches in the wood grain, it can split the thin veneer and you’d have to start over. Prevent that headache by shimming one side of the trimmer with strips of edge banding so that it doesn’t cut as deep. Just “tack” the shims on with the iron, making sure to leave a gap where the blades are.
Since this trimmer has two cutting sides, you can leave the shims on one side to make the initial pass and then just flip it over to make the final pass.
Step 7
Don’t Leave a Splice Where It’ll Show
Splices can be hard to see on raw edge banding, but they may be highly visible after the stain is applied. Inspect the edge banding before you cut it to length so you can cut around splices and avoid surprises later. Avoid waste by using spliced pieces in less visible areas.
Step 8
Touch Up With a Sanding Block
After you trim them, the edges will be sharp. Ease them with 150-grit sandpaper on a sanding block. Hold the sanding block at a slight angle and smooth out the edge. Sand gently and inspect the edge often to avoid sanding through the thin veneer.
